Introduction: Glycosaminoglycans (GAG) are the main components of basement membranes in different organs
such as the kidney and the retina. The objective of this work is link urinary excretion that accurately shows renal
function changes with retinal injury.
Material and methods: Ninety-six healthy subjects were used as controls and 204 patients with essential arterial
hypertension were divided according to the retinopathy stage. GAG were determined in 24-hour urine samples
following a colorimetric method.
Results: GAG in urine increase depending on the stage of hypertensive retinopathy. However, the correlation of
other biochemical parameters of renal injuries (such as serum uric acid, creatinine clearance, microalbuminuria)
with the renal disease in the hypertensive patient is not so evident.
Conclusions: The GAG excreted in urine, used as a marker of kidney disease, are related to the retinal lesions in
hypertensive patient. GAG are a marker of retinopathy in patients with hypertension.